Crimson Moon Beginner Guide — Combat, Runs and First Steps

What is Crimson Moon?

Crimson Moon is a gothic action-adventure RPG from ProbablyMonsters, the studio founded by former Bungie CEO Harold Ryan. You play as a Nephilim — a half-human, half-angel hybrid — serving the Order of the Crimson Moon to reclaim the fallen holy city of Gildenarch from demons, undead, vampires and Hellgrowth abominations. It launched on September 1, 2026 for $19.99 on PC (Steam and Epic), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

How does combat work?

Combat is melee-first and described by the developers as visceral and souls-inspired. You fight hordes of enemies with weapons and supernatural Nephilim powers, and boss encounters against the fabled Dead Gods cap the brutal missions. Early player guides also report a healing system you must manage during fights — treat each engagement deliberately rather than mashing, because souls-inspired games punish greed.

How do missions and runs work?

Crimson Moon is run-based, not a linear campaign. Each run sends you hunting through the wards and districts of Gildenarch, where combat and loot happen. After a run you return to the Church — officially Sanctus Clypeus, your home base for upgrades, NPC interactions and War Table planning. Every successful run presents new missions, modifiers and skill achievements. See how runs work for the full loop.

What are Nephilim powers?

Your Nephilim powers evolve as you progress and bestow temporary abilities that enable devastating attacks — the developers call this “upgrade to superhuman”. Managing when to deploy these temporary powers is a core skill of the game.

Should you play solo or in co-op?

Both are fully supported. You can crusade alone or slay together in two-player online co-op. Co-op is a real option from the start, not an afterthought — see the co-op guide for how playing together changes the experience.

What difficulty should you choose?

Crimson Moon uses dynamic difficulty scaling — every mission can match your skill, and higher difficulties bring greater rewards. If you are new to souls-like combat, start at the standard setting and raise it once the melee rhythms feel natural. There is no penalty for adjusting; the game is built around replayable runs.

What should you do first?

1. Learn the melee timing before relying on powers — bosses will test it.
2. Complete your first runs to unlock the Church hub loop of upgrades and War Table planning.
3. Decide between solo and two-player co-op.
4. Get familiar with how weapons and armor drive progression — there are no traditional classes.
5. Meet the Dead Gods when your build feels ready.

This guide covers launch-day confirmed facts. Numerical details — level caps, economy values, run lengths — are unconfirmed by any source yet and will be added as we verify them.